When we entered this old house, with all the creaks and pops you can imagine, it was very cold.

And after I cranked up the old boiler to circulate some hot water through the house, the house did not want to heat up.

We did not know why.

This is old school.

At one time a wood stove, or even a coal-burning one, would be in various rooms.

They provided the heat.

At some point the house was modernized and a boiler circulating hot water through radiators was installed.

Something had to be done with the various previous stove locations.

And the common practice, in rural Virginia anyway, was to cover the holes in the chimneys with a tin pie plate. Some chimneys passed through two floors and the same flue was used by two heaters, one on each floor!

The plate to cover the holes would be stuck on somehow and then painted.

And painted again, and again and again.

This plate died a long time ago!

And now provides a convenient source of air conditioning.

The chimney is just as much of a mess as it is where it comes through the roof.

And the roof is penetrated many times by chimneys!

None is lined, none is covered.

And all blow air like they were intended to do that!

The house is cold!

My recommendation: one thing you inherit with an old house is the era it was built in. That can mean many things - lots of fireplaces and chimneys, stove locations, tiny closets, small and steep staircases - many things! Some find that those things add charm and some people don't want to live with them. But buyers are buyers! My job is to inform!